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Global War on Terror Memorial Unveiled in Boscawen

As those who gave all for their country are honored at Boscawen Veterans Cemetery on Memorial Day, a new Global War on Terror Memorial with be unveiled to honor the newest generation of heroes. News 9's Adam Sexton sits down with Preston Lawrance, who spearheaded the project.

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Updated: 12:25 AM EDT May 30, 2016

Global War on Terror Memorial Unveiled in Boscawen

As those who gave all for their country are honored at Boscawen Veterans Cemetery on Memorial Day, a new Global War on Terror Memorial with be unveiled to honor the newest generation of heroes. News 9's Adam Sexton sits down with Preston Lawrance, who spearheaded the project.

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Updated: 12:25 AM EDT May 30, 2016

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WEBVTT ADAM: AT THE STATE VETERANS CEMETERY, NEW HAMPSHIRE HONORS ITS HEROES. AND TOMORROW, IT WILL UNVEIL A NEW MEMORIAL DEDICATED TO THE SERVICE AND SACRIFICE OF THE LATEST GENERATION OF AMERICAN WAR FIGHTERS, A MONUMENT TO THOSE WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES IN THE GLOBAL WAR ON TERROR. >> IT IS NOT JUST ABOUT THE SERVICEMEMBER, JUST HONORING THEIR SACRIFICE. IN A WAY, IT ALSO HONORS THE SACRIFICE THE FAMILY MADE AND SHOWS THE LOVED ONES THAT THEIR SACRIFICE HAS NOT BEEN FORGOTTEN. ADAM: JOINING US NOW IS THE MAN WHO GOT THE BALL ROLLING ON CREATING THIS NEW MONUMENT, PRESTON LAWRENCE. PRESTON, THANKS FOR JOINING US. TELL US WHERE THIS IDEA STARTED, HONORING THE VETERANS OF THE LATEST CONFLICT. >> I WAS VISITING A CLOSE FRIEND OF MINE WHO PASSED AWAY A NUMBER OF YEARS AGO AT THE VERMONT STATE CEMETERY. AS I WAS EXITING THE CEMETERY, I NOTICED A MONUMENT TO MY RIGHT. I WALKED UP TO IT AND IT SAID "HONORING THE GLOBAL WAR ON TERROR FALLEN VETERANS." I WAS DEEPLY MOVED BY THAT. IT DAWNED ON ME I DON'T BELIEVE WE HAVE SUCH A CEMETERY IN NEW HAMPSHIRE. WE DID NOT HAVE ONE HERE. THAT IS WHAT GOT THE BALL ROLLING. ADAM: YOU START WITH THIS IDEA AND WERE ABLE TO GET HELP IN THE FORM OF A MEDAL OF HONOR RECIPIENT. HOW ARE YOU ABLE TO BRING THE STAFF SERGEANT RYAN PITTS INTO THE FOLD? >> I MET HIM AT A CADETS PRESENTATION. HE GRACIOUSLY TALKED TO OUR CADETS. THAT IS HOW I MET HIM. VERY INSPIRED BY HIS HUMBLENESS AND HEROISM. ADAM: WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO HAVE HIM IN THE FOLD? IT IS AN AMAZING STORY OF HEROISM FIGHTING IN AFGHANISTAN. WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO HAVE HIM BACKING THIS? >> IT WAS CRITICAL WE HAD HIS BACKING. WHEN I ASKED IF HE WOULD SERVE AS HONORARY CHAIRMAN, HE SAID I AM BEHIND THIS 150%. AS YOU ALLUDED TO EARLIER, THE FACT HE SERVED IN AFGHANISTAN AND KNOWS WHAT OUR GUYS HAVE TO GO THROUGH INFIGHTING OVER THERE AND THE FAMILIES LEFT BEHIND AS WELL. ADAM: WITH MEMORIAL DAY, WE ARE HONORING ALL THOSE WHO HAVE GIVEN THEIR LIVES PROTECTING AMERICAN FREEDOM. WHAT IS UNIQUE ABOUT THE GLOBAL WAR ON TERROR VETERAN? THIS HAS BEEN A LONG CONFLICT. WHAT DEFINES THAT GROUP OF VETERANS? >> A LOT OF THEM HAVE BEEN ON MULTIPLE DEPLOYMENTS. SOME OF THEM 5, 6, 7 TIMES. SACRIFICE THEY GET FOR OUR COUNTRY, AND THE FAMILY MEMBERS, TOO, ON THESE MULTIPLE DEPLOYMENTS. IT TAKES A TERRIBLE TOLL ON THE FAMILIES. ADAM: TOMORROW AT 12:30 IS WHEN THEY WILL UNVEIL THIS. >> THE CEREMONY WILL BEGIN PROBABLY AT 12:30 P.M. WHERE PRAYING FOR GOOD WEATHER. WE WILL HAVE A LINE OF SPEAKERS. I WILL BEGIN WITH REMARKS. WE HAVE A TALENTED SINGER SINGING "AMERICA THE BEAUTIFUL." WE WILL HAVE THE GENERAL FOLLOW ME AND FOLLOWED BY GOVERNOR HASSAN, OUR CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION. OUR KEYNOTE SPEAKER WILL BE RYAN PITTS, THE MEDAL OF HONOR RECIPIENT.

Global War on Terror Memorial Unveiled in Boscawen

As those who gave all for their country are honored at Boscawen Veterans Cemetery on Memorial Day, a new Global War on Terror Memorial with be unveiled to honor the newest generation of heroes. News 9's Adam Sexton sits down with Preston Lawrance, who spearheaded the project.